p-Nitrophenol permeability and temperature characteristics of an acryloyl-L-proline methyl ester-based porous gel membrane

Thermoresponsive porous gel membranes were synthesized by a simultaneously occurring process consisting of radiation-induced polymerization and crosslinking in aqueous solutions at various concentrations of acryloyl-L -proline methyl ester(A-ProOMe) without a crosslinker. Permeation of p-nitrophenol (PNP) through a thermoresponsive porous gel membrane obtained at a monomer concentration of 80% (w/w) drastically reduced around 14°C, the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of linear poly(A-ProOMe) in water, from 0.60 × 10⁻³ cm/min at 10°C to no permeation at 18°C, accompanied by changes in both size and shape of pores associated with gel shrinkage. Moreover, it was found that porous gel membranes with a porosity of approximately 60% had a greater PNP permeability constant through porous gel membranes with mutually connected pores obtained at a monomer concentration of 50% (w/w) than individually supported pores obtained at a monomer concentration of 70% (w/w). © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1495–1500, 1998     

Thallium selenate (Tl2SeO4) in a paraelastic phase by X‐ray powder diffraction

The structure of thallium selenate, Tl₂SeO₄, in a paraelastic phase (above 661 K) has been analysed by Rietveld analysis of the X‐ray powder diffraction pattern. Atomic parameters based on the isomorphic K₂SO₄ crystal in the paraelastic phase were used as the starting model. The structure was determined in the hexagonal space group P6₃/mmc, with a = 6.2916 (2) Å and c = 8.1964 (2) Å. From the Rietveld refinement it was found that two orientations are possible for the SeO₄ tetrahedra, in which one of their apices points randomly up and down with respect to [001]. One Tl atom lies at the origin with symmetry, the other Tl and one of the O atoms occupy sites with 3m symmetry, the Se atom is at a site with symmetry and the remaining O atom is at a site with m symmetry. Furthermore, it was also found that the Tl atoms display anomalously large positional disorder along [001] in the paraelastic phase.     

Syntheses of model compounds related to an antigenic epitope in pectic polysaccharides from Bupleurum falcatum L. (II)

Stereocontrolled syntheses of model compounds related to a major antigenic epitope against antibupleurum 2IIc/PG-1-IgG from antiulcer pectic polysaccharide are described. A trisaccharide derivative (13) was prepared as a precursor and a novel and simple approach for the rational design of a glycocluster and glycodendrimer was developed, through the syntheses of the fluorescence-labeled glycocluster (2) and glycodendrimer (3).     

Analysis on heat stress-induced hyperphosphorylation of stathmin at serine 37 in Jurkat cells by means of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and tandem mass spectrometry

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and tandem mass spectrometry were successfully used for determination of a phosphorylation site of stathmin induced by heat stress to Jurkat cells of a human T lymphoblastic cell line. The cells were incubated for 30 min at 41 degrees C up to 45 degrees C in a serum free 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) buffered culture medium. The intracellular soluble proteins were separated by 2-DE, and some of the proteins increased their abundance by heat stress. Those proteins were identified to be calmodulin, protein kinase C substrate, thymosin beta-4 and F-actin capping protein beta-subunit by peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). On the contrary, protein phosphatase 2C gamma-isoform, nucleophosmin, translationally controlled tumor protein, Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor-1, eukaryotic translation initiation factors 5A and 3A subunit 2, ubiquitin-like protein SMT 3B and chloride intracellular channel protein-1 were decreased their abundance. A protein spot of M(r) 18,000 and pI 5.9 was markedly increased at temperatures higher than 43 degrees C at which the cells were led to apoptosis. The spot was identified to be stathmin of a signal relay protein which has a function of sequestering microtubule. MALDI-quadrupole ion trap (QIT)-TOF-MS/MS and immunoblotting with a monoclonal antibody specific for a phosphorylation site of stathmin showed that the spot was a phosphorylated stathmin at serine 37 (Ser 37). The phosphorylation was suppressed by treatment of cells with olomoucine of an inhibitor specific for cyclin dependent kinase (Cdk-1). These results strongly suggest that heat stress activates Cdk-1 which phosphorylates Ser 37 on the stathmin molecule. The phosphorylation may cause the functional loss of stathmin for dynamic microtubule assembly and leads Jurkat cells to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.     

Experimental and theoretical evaluation of the charge distribution over the ruthenium and dioxolene framework of [Ru(OAc)(dioxolene)(terpy)] (terpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine) depending on the substituents

A series of ruthenium complexes [Ru(OAc)(dioxolene)(terpy)] having various substituents on the dioxolene ligand (dioxolene = 3,5-t-Bu2C6H2O2 (1), 4-t-BuC6H3O2 (2), 4-ClC6H3O2 (3), 3,5-Cl2C6H2O2 (4), Cl4C6O2 (5); terpy = 2,2':6'2' '-terpyridine) were prepared. EPR spectra of these complexes in glassy frozen solutions (CH2Cl2:MeOH = 95:5, v/v) at 20 K showed anisotropic signals with g tensor components 2.242 > g1 > 2.104, 2.097 > g2 > 2.042, and 1.951 > g3 > 1.846. An anisotropic value, Deltag = g1 - g3, and an isotropic g value, g = [(g1(2) + g2(2) + g3(2))/3]1/2, increase in the order 1 < 2 < 3 < 4 < 5. The resonance between the Ru(II)(sq) (sq = semiquinone) and Ru(III)(cat) (cat = catecholato) frameworks shifts to the latter with an increase of the number of electron-withdrawing substituents on the dioxolene ligand. DFT calculations of 1, 2, 3, and 5 also support the increase of the Ru spin density (Ru(III) character) with an increase of the number of Cl atoms on the dioxolene ligand. The singly occupied molecular orbitals (SOMOs) of 1 and 5 are very similar to each other and stretch out the Ru-dioxolene frameworks, whereas the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of 5 is localized on Ru and two oxygen atoms of dioxolene in comparison with that of 1. Electron-withdrawing groups decrease the energy levels of both the SOMO and LUMO. In other words, an increase in the number of Cl atoms in the dioxolene ligand results in an increase of the positive charge on Ru. Successive shifts in the electronic structure between the Ru(II)(sq) and Ru(III)(cat) frameworks caused by the variation of the substituents are compatible with the experimental data.     

Phosphopeptide-dependent labeling of 14-3-3 ζ proteins by fusicoccin-based fluorescent probes

Fluorescent combination: Cell-penetrating probes derived from the diterpene fusicoccin can form ternary complexes with 14-3-3 proteins and phosphopeptide ligands, whereupon the probes site-specifically attach a fluorescent tag onto the surface of the 14-3-3 proteins.     

Anion photoelectron spectroscopy of germanium and tin clusters containing a transition- or lanthanide-metal atom; MGe(n)- (n = 8-20) and MSn(n)- (n = 15-17) (M = Sc-V, Y-Nb, and Lu-Ta)

The electronic properties of germanium and tin clusters containing a transition- or lanthanide-metal atom from group 3, 4, or 5, MGe(n) (M = Sc, Ti, V, Y, Zr, Nb, Lu, Hf, and Ta) and MSn(n) (M = Sc, Ti, Y. Zr, and Hf), were investigated by anion photoelectron spectroscopy at 213 nm. In the case of the group 3 elements Sc, Y, and Lu, the threshold energy of electron detachment of MGe(n)(-) exhibits local maxima at n = 10 and 16, while in the case of the group 4 elements Ti, Zr, and Hf, it exhibits a local minimum only at n = 16, associated with the presence of a small bump in the spectrum. A similar behavior is observed for MSn(n)(-) around n = 16, and these electronic characteristics of MGe(n) and MSn(n) are closely related to those of MSi(n). Compared to MSi(n), however, the larger cavity size of a Ge(n) cage allows metal atom encapsulation at a smaller size n. A cooperative effect between the electronic and geometric structures of clusters with a large cavity of Ge(16) or Sn(16) is discussed together with the results of experiments that probe their geometric stability via their reactivity to H(2)O adsorption.     

A high-spin iron(IV)-oxo complex supported by a trigonal nonheme pyrrolide platform

We report the generation and characterization of a new high-spin iron(IV)-oxo complex supported by a trigonal nonheme pyrrolide platform. Oxygen-atom transfer to [(tpa(Mes))Fe(II)](-) (tpa(Ar) = tris(5-arylpyrrol-2-ylmethyl)amine) in acetonitrile solution affords the Fe(III)-alkoxide product [(tpa(Mes2MesO))Fe(III)](-) resulting from intramolecular C-H oxidation with no observable ferryl intermediates. In contrast, treatment of the phenyl derivative [(tpa(Ph))Fe(II)](-) with trimethylamine N-oxide in acetonitrile solution produces the iron(IV)-oxo complex [(tpa(Ph))Fe(IV)(O)](-) that has been characterized by a suite of techniques, including mass spectrometry as well as UV-vis, FTIR, M?ssbauer, XAS, and parallel-mode EPR spectroscopies. Mass spectral, FTIR, and optical absorption studies provide signatures for the iron-oxo chromophore, and M?ssbauer and XAS measurements establish the presence of an Fe(IV) center. Moreover, the Fe(IV)-oxo species gives parallel-mode EPR features indicative of a high-spin, S = 2 system. Preliminary reactivity studies show that the high-spin ferryl tpa(Ph) complex is capable of mediating intermolecular C-H oxidation as well as oxygen-atom transfer chemistry.     

Iridium-catalyzed addition of aroyl chlorides and aliphatic acid chlorides to terminal alkynes

Iridium complexes show high catalytic activity in intermolecular additions of acid chlorides to terminal alkynes to afford valuable (Z)-β-chloro-α,β-unsaturated ketones. Ligands in the catalytic system play a crucial role in this reaction. An N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) is an efficient ligand for the addition of aroyl chlorides, while dicyclohexyl(2-methylphenyl)phosphine (PCy(2)(o-Tol)) is indispensable for the reaction of aliphatic acid chlorides. The addition reactions proceed regio- and stereoselectively with suppression of decarbonylation and β-hydrogen elimination, which have been two major intrinsic problems in transition-metal-catalyzed reactions. Stoichiometric reactions of active iridium catalysts with aroyl chlorides and aliphatic acid chlorides are carried out to gain insights into the reaction mechanisms.